Clay cracker Posted August 24, 2018 Report Share Posted August 24, 2018 Hello, I have just purchased a box lock Non ejector 12 bore of the above maker “Chas Bowerman Birmingham” It has an unusual feature due to having three triggers! The front trigger is pushed forward to disengage the safety, The last two are standard triggers. I can not find any information of this maker ( or patent) upon the internet so was wondering if anyone had any information possibly upon the maker or patent? Any help is much appreciated. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kenholland Posted August 24, 2018 Report Share Posted August 24, 2018 I will have a look in my gun makers bible , leave it with me , the gun quarter in Birmingham , is only 15 minutes drive for me , changed a lot now to when I was a young lad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted August 24, 2018 Report Share Posted August 24, 2018 Charles Bowerman, 22 Bath St Birmingham 1920, 66 1/2 Snow Hill1923-25, 18 Bath Street 1926. Charles Bowerman Ltd 1927-31 (same address) Charles Bowerman 1932-33 (Same address) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHenry Posted August 24, 2018 Report Share Posted August 24, 2018 (edited) Sounds facinating and (without knowing too much) in line with the trends / eccentricities of late Victorian / early Edwardian gun making Do you have any photos you could share? Edited August 24, 2018 by PeterHenry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay cracker Posted August 25, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2018 (edited) 11 hours ago, PeterHenry said: Sounds facinating and (without knowing too much) in line with the trends / eccentricities of late Victorian / early Edwardian gun making Do you have any photos you could share? Here are a few pictures PeterHenry. ( edit to say cant upload others due to size?) Edited August 25, 2018 by Clay cracker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 The gun appears to be a very basic "trade boxlock" I would hazard a guess that you have a proto type or one of many experimental guns produced that never saw a production run . Over the years I have come across several such guns that no one else has seen or knew any thing about . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterHenry Posted August 28, 2018 Report Share Posted August 28, 2018 It does seem quite an odd configuration - intresting though. How easy is it to shoot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardigun Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 Hi, There looks like a pin "screw" at the top of the action behind the breech end. This could be an interceptor, to prevent the gun firing if it were dropped. This is an "extra", fitted to better quality guns. The "push forward" trigger could be to make one trigger a "set trigger". I would expect this to be associated with a rifle barrel , which makes me wonder if it originally had a set of barrels with sight on, and rifleing on one barrel, to make it a Ball and Shot Gun. ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay cracker Posted August 29, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 11 hours ago, PeterHenry said: It does seem quite an odd configuration - intresting though. How easy is it to shoot? Swings nicely, balances right on the hinge pin. very nice to use overall. Believed to be half and full choked. Was originally 65mm chamber but has been lengthened and reproved to 70mm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted August 29, 2018 Report Share Posted August 29, 2018 7 hours ago, cardigun said: Hi, There looks like a pin "screw" at the top of the action behind the breech end. This could be an interceptor, to prevent the gun firing if it were dropped. This is an "extra", fitted to better quality guns. The "push forward" trigger could be to make one trigger a "set trigger". I would expect this to be associated with a rifle barrel , which makes me wonder if it originally had a set of barrels with sight on, and rifleing on one barrel, to make it a Ball and Shot Gun. ? I think you will find the screw behind the fence is a striker retaining pin . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cardigun Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 16 hours ago, Gunman said: I think you will find the screw behind the fence is a striker retaining pin . On a Boxlock ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted August 30, 2018 Report Share Posted August 30, 2018 3 minutes ago, cardigun said: On a Boxlock ? Yes, as Gunman says, as it is not always an indication of intercepting sears. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Edwards Posted January 8, 2019 Report Share Posted January 8, 2019 Very interested in this thread. Chas Bowerman was my grandfather, who died before I was born. My mother, who worked with him died in 2010 but had a collectors licence as she had two or three of his guns (non viable) which were sold on her death. One I recall had the three trigger configuration. I still have a few of his tools, including a micrometer. I'd be interested to hear of any of his guns still in existence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted January 9, 2019 Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 (edited) This is getting interesting, a family member of the maker. And chances are the gun your mother had is the same or same type of gun the op has now. Hope more history can be found. What is the rear facing front trigger actually for and what does it do ? Some sort of safety catch ? Edited January 9, 2019 by figgy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunman Posted January 9, 2019 Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 How about getting the stock off and a few pictures of the action ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted January 9, 2019 Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 1 hour ago, Gunman said: How about getting the stock off and a few pictures of the action ?? I was thinking the same. It would be very interesting to see that action and how the safety works. It would also show whether the screws behind the fences are pin retaining screws, as suspected, or intercepting sears. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay cracker Posted January 9, 2019 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2019 17 hours ago, figgy said: This is getting interesting, a family member of the maker. And chances are the gun your mother had is the same or same type of gun the op has now. Hope more history can be found. What is the rear facing front trigger actually for and what does it do ? Some sort of safety catch ? Yes figgy to disengage the safety the front trigger is pushed forward upon doing so the middle and rear trigger can then be used to fire the right and left barrels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin J McCumstie Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 Hi Rod Edwards, Re your post back on 19/01/2019… I have a ‘licensed’ Chas Bowerman in my possession. I live in the South West of Western Australia. It is a 12 Gauge Side x Side, Double Hammer, Sidelock with Ejector. It does not bear a Model Number but has the Serial Number and all the proof marks from the Birmingham Proofing House, relative to the periods from 1904 to 1925 & 1925 to 1954. I am happy to share photos if you wish, I have partially restored it and it’s in good condition considering its age of just on 100 years. I hope that sheds some light for the family history. Col in Oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welsh1 Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 9 hours ago, Colin J McCumstie said: Hi Rod Edwards, Re your post back on 19/01/2019… I have a ‘licensed’ Chas Bowerman in my possession. I live in the South West of Western Australia. It is a 12 Gauge Side x Side, Double Hammer, Sidelock with Ejector. It does not bear a Model Number but has the Serial Number and all the proof marks from the Birmingham Proofing House, relative to the periods from 1904 to 1925 & 1925 to 1954. I am happy to share photos if you wish, I have partially restored it and it’s in good condition considering its age of just on 100 years. I hope that sheds some light for the family history. Col in Oz I have allowed your post even though the thread is 5 years old, as some may be interested, Rod Edwards has not visited this site since 2019. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 Just looked this up and it’s patent No. 330129 taken out by Charles Bowerman and Ernest Crump. Will post details later. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 17 minutes ago, Old Boggy said: Just looked this up and it’s patent No. 330129 taken out by Charles Bowerman and Ernest Crump. Will post details later. OB Attached details of the patent for the forward trigger safety. Will advise the date a bit later when I`ve found it. OB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted April 17 Report Share Posted April 17 Patent 330129 was taken out in 1915. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 facinating....(i quite like the plainess of the boxlock) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Boggy Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 1 hour ago, ditchman said: facinating....(i quite like the plainess of the boxlock) Also a plain sidelock. Less is more in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 18 Report Share Posted April 18 1 hour ago, Old Boggy said: Also a plain sidelock. Less is more in my opinion. Totally agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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